Immunotherapy can feel like a black box when you’re living through cancer, caring for someone with cancer, or trying to understand today’s rapidly changing treatment landscape. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew, functional medicine doctor Dr. Dan speaks with immunobiology expert Dr. Susan Kaech (Salk Institute) about how the immune system works in cancer, how T cells recognize tumors, and how the tumor microenvironment suppresses immune responses.

They walk through what immunotherapy is (including immune “brakes” like PD1/CTLA4 and CAR T cell therapy), what side effects can look like, and why some cancers respond better than others. The conversation also tackles treatment resistance, the role of chemotherapy plus immunotherapy, and why tumor mutations and tumor sequencing matter for treatment options and clinical trial eligibility.

You’ll also hear emerging perspectives on cancer vaccines (including personalized vaccine approaches and mRNA platforms), the gut microbiome and dietary fiber, and the developing science of neuroimmunology, including how chronic stress signaling can shape immune suppression and why beta blockers are being studied alongside immunotherapies. This episode is for patients, survivors, caregivers, and clinicians who want an understandable, research-informed conversation without hype.

If this conversation helped you feel more informed or less alone, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment with what you want to learn about next. Share this episode with a patient, survivor, caregiver, or clinician who might benefit from a clearer understanding of immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, and the stress-immune connection. Follow us on Instagram @WIWIKPOD.